Payments and Postage costs

The bank charges are complex on international transactions. But the aim is to reduce the costs of these charges as far as possible. To keep it simple use international money orders drawn in sterling or
ask for exact figures.

Cash
can be be 'sent' in GBP (£), EUR (€) or USD ($) by insured registered post.This used to be a save option but is no longer covered
by Royal Mail insurance and is not safe to or from many countries. If an
item is collected then cash is the preferred option.

GBP is Great Britain Pounds sterling, USD is United States Dollars and EUR is the European Union Euro zone currency.

PayPal payments funded using the 'Add funds' option (open to USA, Canada, Germany and Netherlands
from a current account) or from existing credit (i.e. no credit card). This is a different account to the 'business'
account for using a credit card see below.

Cheque drawn on a German bank (ask for payee name and address - by arrangement).

Check drawn on a US bank (ask for payee name and address - by special arrangement only).

By arrangement:-

Credit cards using PayPal (ask for payee name and address, payments in Sterling (GB pound) and your credit card is charged in your own currency).
PayPal charges fees to the sellers. These are complex:
3.4%+0.20GBP to receive the funds, 0.5% for cross borders. For a seller to
retain the 20GBP of an item the charge would have to be 21.02GBP (5.1% charge from PayPal);
a 100GBP item becomes 104.27GBP (which is still 4.27%). They also pick the
exchange rate, which is more expensive than that seen on EBay. EBay do not
allow the seller to bill the buyer for these fees on EBay auctions. Sellers
therefore may cover these PayPal fees by other means. The preferred option
is to avoid the
charges in the first place. However eBay prefer the excess fees and insist
that this is the default payment method.

For sellers or buyers outside of the USA there is no
protection from fraud using PayPal and PayPal have charged the seller against
credit card payments that where assumed cleared 6 months earlier. Although it
convenient for many users, particularly those using EBay it is risky for both
buyer and seller.

Important:-

New items sold and posted to EU states are subject to VAT @ 15% with some marked exceptions, notably books and under 'other items' as they are private sales of G.B. McMullon
and such as items under the second hand goods scheme. If VAT is applied the
listing or page should have this included in the details.

Postage is charged at cost (subject to VAT in the EU). Insured postage is recommended - loss or damage is rare but does happen.

Unbelievable as it seems to many Europeans the UK is
in the EU. There is no import costs posting from the UK to other EU countries.
If you are VAT registered and outside of the UK supply your VAT number and the
consignment is shipped without VAT charges.

Exchange rates are taken from UK high street prices (that is what I have to pay to buy sterling from foreign notes or to buy foreign notes) but will be close to the estimate quotes of Bloomberg,
Thomas Cook, Yahoo and Oanda.
To buy currency few sites quote both buying and selling rates, but Oanda gives a quote to buy foreign currency (including GBP) in US$ at http://www.oanda.com/products/fxdelivery/.
Also NatWest
gives a
buying and selling quote from the menu options "Our Account & Service
/ Travel / Exchange Rates" or using the Currency
Converter . The Royal Mail
(Post Office) also has a
currency converter.

In July 2003 the Royal Mail acknowledged that 14.5
million letters went astray in the previous year and 1.5 million parcels
stolen when left at the doorstep. Insurance is always advisable as the
certificate of postage only covers to 27GBP for letters and 20GBP for parcels.

From 21st August 2006 prices are according to dimension
as well as weight.

postage refund plus
compensation for actual loss up to the value of the item, or 100 x 1st class
stamps at the first weight step, whichever is the lowest; covered by
Certificate of Posting, otherwise use Special Delivery for up to 500GBP, to
1000GBP add 1.00GBP and to 2500GBP add 2.00GBP